TULANE: The good news for new Tulane head coach Curtis Johnson is that he will get back most of his starters to help erase the sting of losing their final 10 games. The offensive line is a question mark this season, but if they can block, this Tulane team will be solid offensively. Johnson loves QB Ryan Griffin (2,502 pass yds, 13 TD, 10 INT), and expects much bigger things from him. The Green Wave will also get back their star RB, Orleans Darkwa (924 rush yds, 13 TD). The offense looks promising, but it will mean nothing if their defense doesn't improve drastically after letting up 37.5 PPG (6th-most in FBS) and 410 total YPG. A lot of individually skilled players are back on defense, it's just a matter of when or if they come together. LB Trent Mackey (145 tackles) is a monster within an improving linebacking corps and the secondary should also be better with experience.

LA LAFAYETTE: Mark Hudspeth did one of the best coaching jobs in the nation last season, winning nine games with a team that had lost nine in 2010. The Ragin' Cajuns succeeded behind an explosive offense that gets back nearly all of its main contributors. Signal caller Blaine Gautier (2,958 pass yds, 23 TD, 6 INT) is back after a superb season and will once again have the luxury of throwing to WR Javone Lawson (1,092 yards, 8 TDs). Defensively, this team was a mess last season (29.9 PPG allowed) and returns two starters (which in this case could be a positive). The defense has a lot of young talent that saw the field last year, and some junior college transfers who will be asked to contribute right away.